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Former Kesmarc Farm to become 'dude ranch' style rehab

Farm owners in the area of Blichton, FL, near the former Kesmarc Farm, listened to owner Robert Miller, right, talk about how the farm will now become a "dude ranch" type of addiction center to treat people with drug and alcohol addictions.

Doug Engle/ Ocala Star-Banner

By Carlos E. MedinaCorrespondent

Published: Friday, August 2, 2013 at 6:07 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, August 2, 2013 at 6:07 p.m.

The owner of the facility where a young woman died in an explosion last year is moving forward with plans to turn the property into a high-end "dude ranch" style addiction rehabilitation center.

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Robert Miller, a South Florida businessman who owns the 86,000-square-foot building that was the former Kesmarc Equine Rehabilitation facility at 15530 W. County Road 326, Ocala, invited neighboring property owners over on Friday to discuss his plans.

In February 2012, a hyperbaric chamber exploded at the facility, killing Erica Marshall, 28. A horse also died in the explosion. Kesmarc did not reopen.

Miller said he had plans two years ago to turn the facility into an addiction rehab center, but the sour economy would not allow it. He applied for and received a zoning variance from the Marion County Board of Commissioners for the facility at that time, but was waiting for better financial times.

"During this last turn down in the economy, I had a property in Orlando that basically failed and I lost hundreds of millions of dollars. As of right now, I'm back. The economy is getting better and I am doing well financially and I am doing things like this, which I wanted to do for the last four or five years but couldn't because the economy was so bad," Miller said. "We know, or have family, who can use a facility like this."

But some who gathered at the main building Friday had doubts about whether the facility would work as a high-end rehabilitation center.

"I'm just not seeing that you can have a dude ranch with only 14 acres," said Dave Pezza, who owns a nearby farm.

The facility at one time encompassed more than 400 acres of what was Farnsworth Farms. Miller said he turned over 400 acres to the bank in a deal that cost him several million dollars, but is currently trying to buy back some of that property.

"I paid too much for it to begin with," he said.

The plans for the rehabilitation facility call for a major remodel to turn it into the dude ranch resort that Miller envisions. The facility currently has a utilitarian feel.

"I plan on investing maybe one to two million into the retrofit," Miller said.

Treatment at the facility would center around the care of horses, and each patient would be assigned a horse during their stay.

A current barn will be converted into housing. The stalls and indoor track in the main building will remain the same, but the other half of the building will be turned into common areas with a gym, pool and movie theater. A gourmet kitchen is planned, as well as a covered basketball court. A lake on the property, which has run dry, will be revamped and include a fountain.

The price to stay at the rehabilitation ranch will cost between $30,000 to $90,000 per month and include counseling and other treatments. The initial capacity will be about 20 patients, but the facility was given authorization for up to 80 patients.

Miller said the center will not open for at least another year and is still in the planning stages. He said he has not yet contracted with an operator.

Miller assured those at the meeting Friday that the facility would be private and not take in court-ordered patients. Security, he said, would be of the highest importance.

"When I do something, I do it right. No matter who comes in to operate it, I will be in charge. I assure you that," he said.

A Marion County Sheriff's Office investigation into the 2012 explosion deemed it was an accident. Marshall's husband, Kieran, sued Kesmarc and other companies associated with the hyperbaric chamber last November. The lawsuit is still pending.

Justin Richardson, the manager of the property, said there are plans to honor Erica Marshall in the final design of the proposed new facility.

<p>The owner of the facility where a young woman died in an explosion last year is moving forward with plans to turn the property into a high-end "dude ranch" style addiction rehabilitation center.</p><p>Robert Miller, a South Florida businessman who owns the 86,000-square-foot building that was the former Kesmarc Equine Rehabilitation facility at 15530 W. County Road 326, Ocala, invited neighboring property owners over on Friday to discuss his plans.</p><p>In February 2012, a hyperbaric chamber exploded at the facility, killing Erica Marshall, 28. A horse also died in the explosion. Kesmarc did not reopen.</p><p>Miller said he had plans two years ago to turn the facility into an addiction rehab center, but the sour economy would not allow it. He applied for and received a zoning variance from the Marion County Board of Commissioners for the facility at that time, but was waiting for better financial times.</p><p>"During this last turn down in the economy, I had a property in Orlando that basically failed and I lost hundreds of millions of dollars. As of right now, I'm back. The economy is getting better and I am doing well financially and I am doing things like this, which I wanted to do for the last four or five years but couldn't because the economy was so bad," Miller said. "We know, or have family, who can use a facility like this."</p><p>But some who gathered at the main building Friday had doubts about whether the facility would work as a high-end rehabilitation center.</p><p>"I'm just not seeing that you can have a dude ranch with only 14 acres," said Dave Pezza, who owns a nearby farm.</p><p>The facility at one time encompassed more than 400 acres of what was Farnsworth Farms. Miller said he turned over 400 acres to the bank in a deal that cost him several million dollars, but is currently trying to buy back some of that property.</p><p>"I paid too much for it to begin with," he said.</p><p>The plans for the rehabilitation facility call for a major remodel to turn it into the dude ranch resort that Miller envisions. The facility currently has a utilitarian feel.</p><p>"I plan on investing maybe one to two million into the retrofit," Miller said.</p><p>Treatment at the facility would center around the care of horses, and each patient would be assigned a horse during their stay.</p><p>A current barn will be converted into housing. The stalls and indoor track in the main building will remain the same, but the other half of the building will be turned into common areas with a gym, pool and movie theater. A gourmet kitchen is planned, as well as a covered basketball court. A lake on the property, which has run dry, will be revamped and include a fountain.</p><p>The price to stay at the rehabilitation ranch will cost between $30,000 to $90,000 per month and include counseling and other treatments. The initial capacity will be about 20 patients, but the facility was given authorization for up to 80 patients.</p><p>Miller said the center will not open for at least another year and is still in the planning stages. He said he has not yet contracted with an operator.</p><p>Miller assured those at the meeting Friday that the facility would be private and not take in court-ordered patients. Security, he said, would be of the highest importance.</p><p>"When I do something, I do it right. No matter who comes in to operate it, I will be in charge. I assure you that," he said.</p><p>A Marion County Sheriff's Office investigation into the 2012 explosion deemed it was an accident. Marshall's husband, Kieran, sued Kesmarc and other companies associated with the hyperbaric chamber last November. The lawsuit is still pending.</p><p>Justin Richardson, the manager of the property, said there are plans to honor Erica Marshall in the final design of the proposed new facility.</p>